Christie court pick to face Dem-controlled panel

TRENTON (AP) — A confirmation hearing is slated Thursday for the openly gay, black Republican who Gov. Chris Christie nominated to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Democrats who control the Senate Judiciary Committee have questioned whether Bruce Harris is qualified to serve.

The 61-year-old bond lawyer has no court or trial experience. Yet Christie maintains Harris is — in his words — “supremely qualified.”

The Morris County mayor has alienated gay rights activists by promising the governor he would recuse himself from cases involving same-sex marriage.

The state’s black lawmakers also failed to endorse him.

Democrats voted down Christie’s other nominee in March. There were concerns about First Assistant Attorney General Phillip Kwon stemming from the finances of a family-owned liquor store. Kwon would have been the court’s first Asian-born member.